iTunes Music Store Launches in 56 New Countries, Movies Arrive in Four

[MacRumors]

Earlier today, we noted that the iTunes Music Store had gone live in Russia and Turkey, but now that changes have propagated throughout iTunes and we've had time to collect reports, it now appears that Apple is selling music through the iTunes Store in 56 new countries. The additions nearly double the number of countries in which the iTunes Music Store operates.

The new countries include:

- Europe: Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine

- Africa, the Middle East and India: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, India, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Swaziland, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Zimbabwe

- Asia Pacific: Fiji, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

- Latin America and the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago

Beyond music, four of the new countries have also seen Apple roll out access to movies: India, Indonesia, Russia, and Turkey.

Update 9:08 PM: Apple has published a press release confirming that it has launched the iTunes Store in 56 new countries.

Article Link: iTunes Music Store Launches in 56 New Countries, Movies Arrive in Four

[macbookairman99]

I wonder if iTunes is any snappier for them

[Asclepio]

is the african store cheaper?

[justperry]

It many of these countries people can't even afford a normal mobile phone let alone an iPhone.

[iPhoneApple]

So happy to see Apple expand music stores. Now if they can bring iBooks and Videos to all of these countries.

[LaDirection]

"Kazakhstan,"

Great success!

[DamonBowser]

Originally Posted by LaDirection

"Kazakhstan,"

Great success!

Kazakhstan, greatest country in the world
All other countries are run by little girls
Kazakhstan, number one exporter of potassium
Other countries have inferior potassium

Kazakhstan home of dip**** swimming pool.
Its length 30 meter, width six meter
Filtration system a marvel to behold
It remove 18% of human solid waste

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan you very nice place.
From Plains of Darashik to Northern fence of Jewtown.
Kazakhstan friend of all except Uzbekistan.
A very nosy people with bone in their brain.

Kazakhstan industry best in world.
We invented toffee and trouser pants.
Kazakhstan's prostitutes cleanest in the region.
Except of course for too many scars

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, you very nice place.
From Plains of Darashik to Northern fence of Jewtown.

Come grasp the mighty penis of our leader.
From junction with the testes to tip of its face!
O Kazakstan is the best song ever.
Sacha, I kneel before you.

[Thunderhawks]

Originally Posted by LaDirection

"Kazakhstan,"

Great success!

EXACTLY!

Still no Vatican City!

BTW: The smallest country in the world!

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by iPhoneApple

So happy to see Apple expand music stores. Now if they can bring iBooks and Videos to all of these countries.

Give them time.

Hopefully this is the start of a bigger roll out of global releases, especially for video. If the studios would go with releasing globally after first release they might see a drop in casual torrent use. Especially if quality go up and pricing comes down. No TV show is worth $4.99 an episode and there are very few that can't be done in at least 720 if not 1080.

[pgiguere1]

Originally Posted by justperry

It many of these countries people can't even afford a normal mobile phone let alone an iPhone.

You don't need an iPhone to buy music on iTunes.

BTW iTunes has been the largest music retailer in the US for over 4 years now, and now sells more music than all US CD retailers combined. Those people may want to ditch CDs without resorting to piracy too.

[Saladinos]

iTunes making a bollywood push?

[kriebe]

When did Russia and Turkey become European? They are definitely on the continental side of Asia. You could say they are part of Eurasia, but definitely not Europe.

[justperry]

Originally Posted by pgiguere1

You don't need an iPhone to buy music on iTunes.

BTW iTunes has been the largest music retailer in the US for over 4 years now, and now sells more music than all US CD retailers combined. Those people may want to ditch CDs without resorting to piracy too.

But You need an Apple device or not, genuine question?

[pgiguere1]

Originally Posted by justperry

But You need an Apple device or not, genuine question?

No, if you don't have an iDevice you can simply use the iTunes software on PC or Mac. If it only worked for Apple hardware owners I doubt it would be the #1 music retailer worldwide.

[adder7712]

Originally Posted by justperry

But You need an Apple device or not, genuine question?

I had iTunes before I ever owned an iPod (my first one was the 1st gen Nano).

So you don't need an iDevice (iPod, iPad, iPhone etc.) to use iTunes.

[kriebe]

I get that they are physically on both continents. That's why I'm ok with it being Eurasian. But when 90% of a country is in Asia and it's considered a European country, that seems pretty odd to me.

And thanks for the maps... Google is hard.

[glsillygili]

Originally Posted by justperry

It many of these countries people can't even afford a normal mobile phone let alone an iPhone.

Your kidding right? I live in Israel and tons of people have iPhones and we've had iTunes and app store for awhile do I dunno what this article is talking about

[Kaibelf]

Originally Posted by justperry

It many of these countries people can't even afford a normal mobile phone let alone an iPhone.

Most Americans can't afford a BMW, yet here we are with dealerships anyway. Isn't the market grand?

----------

Originally Posted by BIRDinho

iPhone 5 will cost about USD $1,600 in Brazil.

Isn't that the problem with most electronics in Brazil due to their wild tax structure?

[RolyPolyBird]

Originally Posted by justperry

It many of these countries people can't even afford a normal mobile phone let alone an iPhone.

I am guessing you are not widely traveled.

[Foxykhat]

Originally Posted by justperry

It many of these countries people can't even afford a normal mobile phone let alone an iPhone.

WOW this is a bit stereotypical isn't it... but....

What I know from experience, each store offer stuff that are limited to that region. For instance I was shocked initially when whatsapp was not available in the St. Kitts-Nevis store (although on BB that's not an issue). So some might not find signing up through the SKN store profitable.

I think for Apple is just a way of making sure their products/services are covered. It a pity though that there is a separation from what can be had in the US store versus the SKN store.

Foxy

[justperry]

Originally Posted by Foxykhat

WOW this is a bit stereotypical isn't it... but....

No it is not, it is a fact that there are lots of poor people which can't afford anything more than just surviving, this is a fact.
I have travelled around the world an a (push)bike and live in Indonesia, believe me most people in this world can NOT afford a smart phone.
Have you ever left the US or just watch TV to have an opinion?
Genuine question.

[Foxykhat]

Originally Posted by justperry

No it is not, it is a fact that there are lots of poor people which can't afford anything more than just surviving, this is a fact.
I have travelled around the world an a (push)bike and live in Indonesia, believe me most people in this world can NOT afford a smart phone.
Have you ever left the US or just watch TV to have an opinion?
Genuine question.

I'm not doubting or disputing that there are people the world over that are to poor to afford anything more than surviving. Some of these same people are in the great US of A.

I have not travelled the world over, but I have travelled. And while the disparity is great in a number of lesser developed countries it's kind of wrong to think that there aren't people (albeit) a few that can afford such things, thus the need for a company offering service. I doubt Apple and or any other company did not research the need prior to offering service.

Also I'm not American . I believe my initial post said I was happy to see this offered in St. Kitts and Nevis. We are only 68 Sq miles, and in the Eastern Caribbean, but a large percentage of the population have travelled and have knowledge of these places and this knowledge was not received from tv. And Apple products are huge here. The only issue but most have found work around was some stuff not being available in the SKN market, such necessity as whatsapp.

Foxy

[slimbek]

I can't imagine not having had access to iTunes Stores for so long.

[verniesgarden]

i saw "Listen" and thought they were doing a subscription based system called "iTunes Listen" and got excited.

[coolfactor]

Astoundingly huge step forward for the iTunes Store.